Changes in Oligosaccharides of Lentil on Cooking and Germination

Consumption of large amounts of pulses causes flatulence with attendant rectal egestion of gases occasionally accompanied by nausea, cramps and diarrhoea, besides social discomfort. Oligosaccharides of the raffinose family of sugars are mainly responsible for this condition, although other factors present in legumes may also contributed. These oligosaccharides viz raffinose, stachyose and vertiascose remain indigested and consequently unabsorbed through the small intestine and metabolized by the intestinal flora.